A Silent Day in The Wastes
A Silent Day in The Wastes
"Why the hell aren't they up yet!? There's a shit ton of things to do and--"
Lovely. Father is yelling again. I can hear mother's protests, but they are no use. I open my eyes, Night is awake. He is as noticeably pissed as I feel. Corvid is still asleep. Somehow. This stallion is my brother but I've yet to begin to understand him.
"We're coming, we're coming!" Night shouts back. He stands up. "Silent? Could you wake up Corvid? Thanks."
Conceited brother of mine. I make my way to the other one. I could verbally wake him, but my words are too important; too precious to waste on such a small task. Instead I tap him with my hoof. Nothing. Again, this time a bit harder. He stirs a bit, but still nothing. Irritated, I full out smack him. He shoots up with a shout.
"SON OF A BITCH!" His eyes narrow as he finds the source his petty sorrow. "Silent, you fuck, what the hell is wrong with you!?" You would not wake up. I simply did my job. Should I say this out loud? No. No point. Corvid hits me twice. One to get his point across the other for the hell of it. He's obviously tired, or else he would have done worse. I sit and stare as I always do. He let's out a grunt and gets up. Brutish brother of mine. I can't figure out which I prefer. Conceited or brutish. There was another, younger, but he is gone. Father abandoned him. He was cowardly though. If I could laugh I would. Conceited, brutish, or cowardly? Which would I rather spend my time with? Cowardly Phantom most likely. Though, if given the choice, I'd choose none. I do not really despise my brothers, but I don't really love them either.
"Hey, retard, if you think you're spending today laying on your ass--"
Fantastic.
It seems father is in the room now. That's new. He usually waits until I'm downstairs before yelling at me. Oh, father dearest, there is nothing I like about you. Though without you, I wouldn't exist. So funny how different we are.
"--Silent!"
My name too? So full of surprises today aren't we, father? I look in his direction. Should I respond? No. Absolutely no point. I make my way to the door, then downstairs. I see mother. Sad and tired. She smiles as I pass. I make no effort to reciprocate. Maybe I would if possible, even without meaning it, but as it is, I can't. Facial expressions are nearly impossible for me. Nevertheless, she still smiles. I remember earlier in life she would frown when I didn't respond. But, that was when she thought I was rebellious, now she knows I simply can't. I must have stopped moving; father shoves me forward. I continue walking forward until I make it outside. Night and Corvid are already here. Night has a bloody nose, the idiot. He's obviously said something to offend the brute. He's the best of us when it comes to dealing with other ponies, but apparently he doesn't know how to deal with his own flesh and blood. I make it over to them then wait for instructions.
"Oh joy, which pathetic excuse for a child do I get to work with today?" My father begins with gleeful sarcasm. Alright, we may have one thing in common. But he wastes the humor on these half-wits. "I'll take the retard. You two know what to do." He says with a sigh. Beautiful. Corvid and Night get to sell over-priced goods to equally stupid ponies while I spend some quality time with father. This should be interesting. Father and I head for the ruins. I spend my time looking out into the Wastes. I wonder if I could make it alone? Probably. It wouldn't be too difficult. Well.... bartering would be hard....
"The hell are you looking at?" My father spits at me, hitting the back of my head. I fall over. Actually feeling dizzy, I stand up and stumble a bit. Father laughs.
"Oh no, I think I might have knocked out your brains out! Oh wait! There weren't any to begin with!"
Hilarious, Father, I've never heard that one before. I get my feet back under me, and look towards him. I would scowl, but I can’t. I would snap at him, but that’d be a waste of energy. I decide to at least pretend I’m giving him a look of disdain. We continue walking as I make extra effort to look forward. Father mutters to himself as he goes along, about his detestation for my brothers and I. It’s his fault for producing us. I remember his misery when he discovered Mother's being pregnant with both Corvid and Phantom. I'm sure he must have felt the same sorrow when Night and I were born. If his first son disappointed him so, why did he go on and have more? It makes no sense to me. Then again, he’s very sex-driven. Why he is allowed to procreate is beyond me.
“Keep watch.” my father commands. He picks up his pace and I match it. He has been salvaging these ruins for years with no trouble, yet he seemed so paranoid walking through them. Chances are he's probably made a good number of enemies over the years. I keep watch, or at least pretend too. The only two ponies out here are my father and I. I don’t do this well, apparently, because my travel companion notices.
“Silent, you useless piece of shit, I gave you one job and you can’t even do that!” He snaps at me. He stomps towards me until he is but centimeters from my face. “I swear to Celestia, you’re getting dumber by the day. Sometimes I think I left the wrong son outside that town. At least Phantom had the brains to do what I said.”
Is a response needed? No. Not in the slightest. I just stand and stare. Father turns around and starts walking forward into an abandoned building. He stops and glances back to me.
“I should leave you here right now. You’re so stupid you’d probably starve to death. But if I came back home without you, your whore of a mother wouldn’t put out again for a week.” He faces forward again and keeps moving. I follow him. My mind wanders back to whether or not I could survive in the Wasteland alone. Unfortunately, the answer to that question seems to be no because of my poor (seemingly nonexistent) communication skills. We walk from room to room, looking for saleable 200 year old supplies. I walk to the end of the hall to a larger room. The room has a solid metal door, and when we get close to it I see it is a vault of some kind. The door is halfway open and Father steps inside, immediately scavenging through the boxes. An idea strikes me. I look at the door. Then my father.
Would it be worth it, though?
He’s abused me.
Abused my brothers.
Abused my mother.
All both verbally and physically. Sexually as well, in the case of Mother.
He doesn’t offer very many benefits to society. Current or future.
The only thing he offers to the Wasteland itself is being manticore food...
Yes. It is completely worth it.
I push against the metal door slowly. The door swings silently until it closes with a distinct CLICK. Father takes no time to respond.
"What the....?" I hear his hoofsteps as he approaches the door. "Fuck!" He takes a few seconds, probably to look for a doorknob of some kind, before violently pounding on the door. "Silent! Unlock the door!" His voice is full of desperation and anger.
Should I respond? Well..... maybe just this once.
“Huh.... seems like you really did choose the wrong son." My tone is as lifeless as my face. My voice is much deeper than I remember. Then again, last I spoke, I was only a colt. Father pounds the door again in anger. Maybe one day I'll come back for the body. I turn and begin to walk back. As I walk, the right corner of my mouth twitches. A smile....? No. A smirk. A well deserved one. I leave the ruins and walk back home. The wasteland doesn't seem any different than before. The sun is setting, and everypony is already home. I walk into the house and immediately make my way upstairs.
"Silent, you're back! Where's your father?" I hear a mare’s voice from behind me. I look back at my mother then continue going upstairs. I hear her begin to let out whimpers. Pitiful creature, I shall have to put her out of her misery soon. She has served her purposes for living. But, one murder at a time, Silent. I get to my room, Conceited and Brutish are already there. Brutish is already asleep.
"Hello, Silent. Have a nice day?" Night fakes politeness. He's going to try to get me to do something later. I walk over to my bed. "So... where's Father?" I stand and stare. After a few moments, I get into bed. I can feel Night's nervous fear filling the room. "Is he... dead?" No. Not yet. Give him a couple more days though, he'll either starve or dehydrate. There is silence. "Silent.... did you.... kill him...?"
Should I respond? No.
No point.
